Part1 jt gts rng session 030511

Copyright CALSTART 2010

Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)

RNG as a Transportation Fuel

•What is it?

•Where does it come from?

•Costs

•Benefits


CALSTART: A Strategic Broker for Advanced Transportation

National and International in Project Areas

2010130+ Worldwide Participant

Network

3 Offices in US

Four focus areas:Tech CommercializationFleet, Port ConsultingIndustry ServicesPolicy Development


Natural Gas & RNG

Methane

Natural gas RNG

Less GHG Emissions than Petroleum

Net zero or negative

GHG Emissions

Fossil Fuel Renewable Fuel


Renewable Natural Gas

• RNG is renewable• Net zero or even

negative GHG emissions

• Climate change will become the predominant driver going forward

• NG vehicle market growing in CA (20% transit are NGV)

• NG is 30% cheaper than gasoline

RNG

Industrial

Filling stations

Residential

NG

Renaissance in interest in biomethane in CA


RNG, Biomethane & Biogas

• Biogas is a naturally occurring byproduct of decomposing organic material

• Sources: municipal solid waste, animal waste agricultural waste, etc…

• RNG or Biomethane is cleaned-up biogas after removal of CO2, H2O, H2S, and other

• RNG is identical in composition to natural gas – mostly methane (CH4)


Waste as Source of Energy

• US largest producer of waste in the world

• Huge possibilities in recycling and using as energy feedstock

• CA generates ~ 88 million tons of waste; 60 million tons of organic waste = 2 GW potential energy

• CA has 2,000 dairy farms = 2GW potential energy

• Agricultural waste • Animal byproducts • Wood waste• Rice and wheat straw• MSW• Waste water

Manure vs. CompostSo why are we here?


Process flow for AD creation of RNG


Biogas & RNG: Economic Assessment

• RNG (Biomethane) is a renewable and low-carbon transportation fuel

• What are the costs?• Based on actual production cost data from

agricultural farm waste

1. Biogas production via digestion

2. Upgrading biogas to biomethane• Total cost of biomethane produced can be

competitive with conventional natural gas• $9-11/MMBTU for small facility• $6-8/MMBTU for medium facility• vs $5-8/MMBTU market price for NG

(variable - lower right now - $4)

Methane

Off-the-Shelf Equipment is Used to Upgrade Digester Gas to Transportation Quality Biomethane


Biomethane is the Lowest Carbon Fuel Tested by CARB

Fuel Pathway Impact (gCO2e/MJ)

Landfill gas to renewable CNG 11.26Biogas to renewable CNG 13.45Landfill gas to renewable LNG 15.56Biogas to renewable LNG 17.78

Electricity (best case renewable mix) 34.90Hydrogen (best case scenario) 33.09Ethanol (Corn - best case) 46.60*Ethanol (Brazilian sugarcane) 27.40*Ethanol (Forest waste – best case) 21.40

Gasoline (CA reformulated) 96.09Diesel (ULSD) 94.71Fossil (conventional) Natural Gas 68.00

• *Does not include indirect land use change emissions for ethanol

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• Greater than 80% carbon reduction compared with conventional fuels

• Less than half the carbon emissions of electricity and H2

• Lower carbon emissions than cellulosic ethanol

Biomethane has the lowest carbon content of any fuel analyzed by CARB:


Natural Gas is a Proven and Reliable Alternative Fuel

• More than 6,000 buses are powered by natural gas in the United States – most of which are in Southern California

• CA has an impressive network of >150 public NG refueling stations that make driving any where in the state feasible

• RNG could easily supply all CA NG vehicles:– Nearly 15 billion ft3

potential– About 1.4 billion GGEs

Technology

Part1 jt gts rng session 030511